Means for adjusting music-rolls in mechanical musical instruments.



PATENTED NOV. 3, 1903.

E. s. VOTEY. MEANS FOR ADJUSTING MUSIC ROLLS IN MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 20, 1902.

F0 MODEL.

nuance:nuacno uuuuuuuuuuunnuuuo INVENTOR ,Ednmflj fie HIS ATTORN EYS UNITED STATES Patented November 3, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN S. VOTEY, OF SUMMIT, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE AEOLIAN CO., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

MEANS FOR ADJUSTING MUSIC-ROLLS IN MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 743,118, dated November 3, 1903. Application filed January 20, 1902. Serial No. 90,410. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWIN S. VorEv, a citizen of the United States, residing in Summit, Union county, New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Adjusting M usic-Rolls in Mechanical Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to mechanical musical instruments, and particularly to means for adjusting themusic-rolls thereof whereby the perforated music-sheet may be registered properly with regard to a tracker-board comprised in such instruments. The adjusting means for the music-rolls also permits of the musical composition which is cut in the music-sheet being transposed from one key to another.

Iwilldescribe an ad j usting means embodying my invention and then point out the novel features thereof in the claims.

In the accompanyingdrawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the usual two music-rolls and tracker-board comprised in a mechanical musical instrument and showing means embodying my invention for adjusting the two rolls. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view. Fig. 4. is a detail sectional view. Figs. 3 and 4 are drawn to a larger scale than Figs. 1 and 2.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all of the figures.

A A represent the side walls of a frame having the space usually provided in mechanical musical instruments, in which space a music-roll B, a take-up roll C, and a trackerboard or range D are located.

011 the outer surface of the wall A a metal bracket E is secured, and on the outer surface of the wall A a metal bracket E is secured, each of which brackets is in a single piece and both of which support the bearings for the journals of the music-rolls B and C. The bracket E comprises sleeve or collar portions c, in which the bearings for the adjacent journals of the rolls B and C are located, and these bearings comprise a longitudinallymovable cylinder f, which is pressed forward toward the journal. The yielding bearing for the music-roll 13 may be the same as ordinarily used or it may be the same as that shown in Fig. 4, which form of bearing is provided for the journal 0 of the take-up roll. The eylinderf is provided with balls f, between which the end of the journal rests, and with a collar f which serves to retain the balls within the cylinder. A spring f forces the cylinder f inward toward the journal 0.

The bearing for the journal 0 of the roll C may consist of a sleeve j", which is adapted to be moved longitudinally in the bracket E. The bearing for the journal I) of the roll B may consist of a slotted head f provided 011 the end of a driving-shaft F, which is also movable longitudinally in the bracket E. The driving shaft F is provided with a sprocket (not shown) which is geared to a sprocket 9, carried on a shaft G, which is operated to rotate the take-up roll C.

The mechanism for rotating the rolls and the motor for operating the mechanism are so well known to those skilled in the art as to require no further description or illustration.

II represents a screw or equivalent device which is mounted in the wall A in such n1an nor as to be rotated and to be held from 1011- gitudinal movement. The screw II engages with and operates a sleeve h. The rotation of the screw H in one direction causes the sleeve h to move longitudinally toward the operating=head h of the screw II, and the rotation of the screw in a reverse direction causes the sleeve 7b to move longitudinally away from the head It.

7L2 7&3 represent two levers, each of which is fulcrumed intermediate its ends upon a post or stud It. The studs are supported or carried by the bracket E. Each lever at one end is connected with the sleeve 7L, and this may be accomplished by having the end of each lever fit in an annular groove 72?, provided in the sleeve. The free end of the lever 7t bears against the sleeve f and the free end of the lever 7L3 engages with an adjustable collarf, provided on the driving-shaft. It will be seen, therefore, that when the screw H is turned in one direction the rolls B and C will be moved longitudinally against the springs provided in the bearings carried by the bracket E, and when the screw is turned in the opposite direction the rolls ]3 and C will be free to move longitudinally under the ac- ICC) tion of the said springs in the bearings. This longitudinal movement of both the rolls permits of a shifting of the music-sheet relatively to the openings in the tracker-board, and thus the composition cut in the music-sheet may be played in a higher or a lower key. The 1011- gitudinal movement of the rolls B and C also permits of a correct registry of the openings or perforations in the music-sheet with the openings or passages in the trackerboard. This is sometimes necessary owing to the coin traction and expansion of the music-sheet under varying conditions of the atmosphere.

It is obvious that the lever 7L2 may be dispensed with and the lever 763 only employed to shift or adjust the music-roll I3 or the lever 7L2 dispensed with and the lever 7&2 only employed to shift or adjust the roll 0. The adj ustable collar f may be provided on the sleeve f to vary or regulate the throw of the lever 7L5. The adjustment of the collar may be provided for in any desired way. As here shown it is adjusted by means of a set-screw 7L.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as new:

1. I11 a mechanical musical instrument, the combination of a frame provided with side walls, and means for adjusting the musicrolls in the frame, relatively to the side walls, combining the following parts: an adjustable music-roll, an adjustable take-up roll, means for adjusting one of said rolls axially from one end, connected cooperating means for correspondinglyadjusting the other of said rolls from the corresponding end, and means for yieldingly supporting the other ends of said rolls to compensate for the adjustments from the first-named ends.

In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination of a frame provided with side walls, and means for adjusting the musicrolls in the frame, relatively to the side walls, combining the followin parts: an adjustable music-roll, an adjustable take-up roll, means for directly adjusting one of said rolls axially from one end, connected cooperating means,

independent of the tracker, for correspondingly adjusting the other of said rolls from the corresponding end, and means for yieldingly supporting the other ends of said rolls to compensate for the adjustments from the first-named ends.

8. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combin ation of a frame having side walls and means for adjusting the music-sheet transversely between said walls, the said means comprising a music-roll provided with supports adjustable in said side walls, a take-up roll provided with supports also adjustable in said side walls, adjusting means connected with a support for one roll, at that side of the corresponding side wall opposite the said roll, and connected cooperating means for correspondingly adjusting the other of said rolls from one of its supports.

4. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination of music-rolls, a trzitcker-board and means for shifting one of said rolls lougitudinally and relatively to the trackerboard, said means comprising a lever fulcrumed intermediate its ends and having an engagement at one of its ends with a part connected with the roll, a screw and a sleeve operated by the screw, and which has a con nection with the lever.

5. In combination with a tracker, adjustable music-roll supports and stationary supports therefor, means for giving endwise adjustment to the said adjustable supports, a take-up roll mounted to turn in said stationary supports and adjustable longitudinally, and connections between the said music-roll supports and the said take-up roll for causing their simultaneous adjustment.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EIHVIN S. VOTEY.

\Vitnesses:

F. R. \Vvckonn, \V. O. MANsFluL'n. 

